Tensions between President Donald Trump and California escalated sharply on June 9 as the Pentagon deployed approximately 700 Marines to Los Angeles to support National Guard troops responding to ongoing immigration protests. The move came amidst increasing attacks on federal personnel, deepening unrest, and widespread looting in downtown Los Angeles, marking a significant escalation in the federal government’s response to the protests.
The deployment follows Trump’s activation of 2,000 National Guard troops days earlier, citing violent clashes and mounting pressure on law enforcement during demonstrations sparked by immigration raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers throughout the city.
Due to increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings, approximately 700 active-duty U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order.
We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers – even if Gavin…
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) June 9, 2025
According to a statement from the US Department of Defense, the Marines, deployed from Camp Pendleton, are now part of Task Force 51, comprising 2,100 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines, trained specifically in crowd control, de-escalation, and the use of force. They have been tasked with protecting federal property and personnel in the greater Los Angeles area, including immigration agents. US Northern Command confirmed that the Marines were sent from their base at Twentynine Palms in the Southern California desert.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the mobilisation on Monday, saying, “We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers, even if Gavin Newsom will not.” His statement came in response to California democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s criticism of the decision. Newsom, a Democrat, had earlier called Hegseth’s remarks about the deployment “deranged behaviour” and asserted that state and local authorities were capable of managing the situation without additional federal intervention. California also prepared to sue the Trump administration over the federal deployment.
I'm filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to end the illegal takeover of @TheCalGuard, which has escalated chaos and violence in LA.
Donald Trump's violation of the U.S. Constitution is an overstep of his authority.
We will not let this stand. pic.twitter.com/0gbysP0QOl
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 9, 2025
The protests, which began on Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across Los Angeles, have entered their fourth consecutive day. The first confrontations erupted outside a federal detention centre, where demonstrators gathered to demand the release of those detained as part of Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
Fresh protests continued erupting across Los Angeles County on Monday. Confirmed reports of federal immigration agents operating in Whittier and Huntington Park further inflamed tensions and fuelled calls for more demonstrations. Protests were also being planned in other cities across the country.
Meanwhile, overnight violence in downtown Los Angeles saw several businesses looted and vandalised. Three stores along Broadway between 3rd and 7th streets were targeted, Jordan Studio 23, Adidas, and a T-Mobile storefront, all suffering smashed glass and burglaries. Police stood guard at the damaged shops on June 9 morning.
Los Angeles — Rioters loot a T-Mobile store in the ongoing violent insurrection for open borders by far-left and Mexican nationalist extremists. pic.twitter.com/0B1v3zNJAQ
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) June 9, 2025
Graffiti was seen defacing several businesses, including the Los Angeles Times building, spanning multiple blocks. Video footage recorded just after midnight captured individuals entering and exiting the T-Mobile store on South Broadway, smashing the glass front door in the early hours of June 9.
Armed officers also responded to the Adidas store near 8th Street and Broadway after reports of looting. Some stolen merchandise was recovered by law enforcement and placed on top of police vehicles as investigations continued.
While crowds had mostly dispersed by June 9 morning, multiple streets remained closed, and a strong law enforcement presence was maintained around federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles.
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